Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-06
4 New Dakota Town.

| Along about 1882 and 1888, much was
heard about the rapid growth Of Dakota;
how sprightly city would spring up
where only a fortnight before was the
unsettled prairie. These tales were re-
ceived at tho time. in the East, with
many grain Of allowance. 1t has been
popularity supposed that the time for such
examples Of rapid growth had passed,
and that the development of Dakota,
while going steady on, had assumed a
more even pace; but it has been the
fortune of many within the last few
days to see large town, with important
business interests. jump into being on
| ground where bp5 three or four weeks
ago bucolic Mouse River ranchmaI
peacefully pastured his lowing herds.
Reference is made 10 Minot at the
| second crossing of the Mouse River
l16 miles west from Devils Lake and
527 from st. Paul. The cause which
has so suddenly brought this thriving
town into being. lies in the fact that
this is the place chosen by the St. Paul,
! Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway Co,
for division headquarters, and rail-
road communication has suddenly
opened up for settlement a wide and
fertile region which, though so late in
the season. is already attracting many
| settlers.
The town is building on the south side
| of the river, which here, as elsewhere, is
heavily timbered and on the gently
sloping hills, which further back make
rapid ascent to The level prairie be-
yond. A few days ago, only the bare
ground-to-day long main street., lined
on each side with twenty or thirty bus
mess houses IN all stages of completion,
with hastily constructed dwellings, stray
CLING on either side. Lumber, boulders,
| tar paper and miscellaneous array of
other building material litter the streets,
| and trip up the unsuspecting wayfarer,
while the rasp and clatter of the saw and
hammer continue from early morn till
late at night. 1t is amusing to see the
desperate hurry of the merchants to
''open up and be the first 10 catch
the golden shower. Empty gram bags
and tar paper do duty for windows. and
blankets and quilts for doors. This is
rather airy for November. but building
goes steady on. and order will no bou6t
come from chaos before the colder
weather comes on. A restaurant is
doingta rushing business. with the entire
front of the building not yet in, while
the thin November ''ozone" playfully
whisks bits of psper around the coat
tails of its patrons. Business is rushing
and everybody is busy.
1t is readily understood that there is
big demand for workmen of all kinds.
Carpenters receive $2.75 to $500 per
day, and other work is payed for in
proportion. OF course everybody is
making mOney;it can't be otherwise
where. with the bare ground to begin
with, everything must be created from
the raw material. The future prospects
1T the town are excellent. and greater
growth can be expected next year.
The town is the present terminus of the
freight and passenger service on the
railroad, and besides, it is to be the
headquarters for building five or six
hundred miles of new road next year.
and machine shops. storehouses and
division headquarters are to be erected
in the early spring. and in addition,
much repairing and other work must
be done. The company is busy at
work putting IN several miles. of side
track and making other arrangements
for an extensive business. But the
chief factor which assures its future, is.
that it is the natural entrepot for the
DeLace and Mouse river valleys, and
the exceedingly fertile surrounding
country. which is now only partially
occupied. and which will be certain to
be settled with the opening Of another
spring.-tT Paul Pioneer Press.